The National tribune., 1887-06-09
WILLIAMSBURG.
The Story ms Told bya Member or the 9th


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: To throw a
little light on the subject of Gen. Hancock S
part of the Williamsburg battle OF May 9Th,
1862, please publish inclosed copy of Gen.
Hancock's report Of losses incurred therein by
troops under his command, viz:
CAMP NEAR WILLIAMSBURG. May 8, 1852.
CAPTAIN: have the honor herewith TO transmit
a list of the killed. wounded and missing of my
command Of the 9Th inst la front of Williamsburg:
9Th Wis, killed. ~ wounded 49.h Pa, 2wounded
9th Me, wounded; 9Th Me. lno ossesli SD ~ y,
killed wounded. 30 missing; Battery T. LIST ". y.
Art killed; lst N. Y. Ind't Battery, wounded.
Total 10 killed, % wounded and 30 missing.
lam, sir very respectfully, your obedient servant,
w. ;. HANCOCK, Brisadier-General.
CART. L. ID. II. CURRTE,
Assistant Adiutant- General, Smiths Division.
The above will probably be accepted as con-
elusive as 10 troops under his command and
losses sustained by each organization. Geo. Ii.
Mckinney, in a recont issue, assumes all the
glory and honor for two Of the regiments
5th Wis. and 9Th Me.-placing all the other
commands in safe places on the TANKS. Singu-
lar as il may seem, accepting his statement as
correct, the report shows that his regiment,
9Th Me, although placed in open field and
taking the brunt of the attack, is the only
organization reporting no losses. McKenney' s
statement contains SO many errors aud omis-
sions Of truth that it is hardly worth attempt
ing TO correct them.
and was mustered out in the Summer of 1861.
1t was the only three months regiment from
that State. Ii could not have been in Gen.
Dayidson's Brigade in May, 1852. The 9th
Wis. was never in DavidsOn's Brigade. All the
regiments named by Gen. Hancock did have
Williamsburg" inscribed on their flags; and
probably all OF them were publicly thanked
by Gen. Mcclellan in person. well remem-
Der listening TO something which at the time
took far u.h huf NM ha
been mistaken, for we were not there and got
no thanks. These troops then thought they
had done "big thing" but in after years, when
comparing Williamsburg with other shirmiSheS
in which they with Hancock took part, Williams
burg became dwarfed.
Can any one explain why so few Of our men
were put into that fight, where the rear guard
Of the enemy held US at bay for a whole day,
and were allowed TO retire without more loss
than they had inflicted? Were half of the
troops that were within six miles Of Fort Ma
gruder at daylight, May 5, engaged or used
during the day? Could not Hancock, had his
force been doubled, by pressing their flank and
at time of the iercest of the fight in front,
have cut of their retreat and captured the whole
rebel force there engaged2 What he did-and
from smallness of his force was compelled TO
do-was TO remain a passive spectator of the
fight inside of the line OF defenses, on their
left flank and rear, from as early as noon till
the rebels sent out a party about o'clock p. m.
TO see what he was there for. All these hours
Hancock's position had been a critical one-no
line Of retreat possible if attacked by superior
force Would not few thousand more men
given Hancock at first have been OF vastly
more value TO the cause than was Little
Macs" thanks to the 9TH Me- for their wonder
ful success. which they had achieved without
losing single drop of blood2
Comrades, had not we better drop Williams
burg for a while, and write about other places
where these same troops fought under Hancock
and others, and where all had chance TO fight
and did fight? The 9Th Wis. and 9th Ne. fought
side by side in the same brigade from July.
1851, till August. 1864. Never apart except for
a few weeks. when the 9th Wis. was sent in
1863 to New York 10 attend 10 little matter
which needed attention there. Let them write
Of their part in the seven days in front of
Richmond, South Mountain, Antietam, Marye's
flights May, 1863, under the green cross flag
Of the Light Division, Sixth Corps, Rappahon-
mock Station and many other places Let those
Of the 9TH Ne. write Of battles in which they
were not so fortunate as at Williamsburg, losing
men and not winning McClellan's thanks. Do
not claim all the honor. There is enough,
properly distributed, TO 90 around. Be just TO
yourselves and generous 10 Others. i think
Hancock's part of the battle of Williamsburg
was as successful. all things considered, as ever
befel troops under McClellan's command
GEO. 4. PEAKS, Co. B, 9th Me-, Battle Creek,
Mob